Back rest



Jan. 26, 1932. 5;,v PONTEN ET AL 1,842,424

BACK REST Filed Aug. 11, 1928 IN V EN TORS- JEAN 5. PO/VTE/Vanb" OLAF Ml. @NTEN.

BY 4 ca THE/R ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES mT- NT eerie-i: Y

BACK. :ansr

Application filed August 11,.1928. Serial'li'o. 298,976.

The invention relates to a portable back rest particulary adapted for use on beaches and lawns, and in. camps, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will be strong and relatively light in construction,

be folded together to form a compact, easily transported article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the frame members will be formed exclusively of metal of standard material and lowing description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the of the specification. It is to be understood,

drawings accompanying and forming part however, that variations in the showing made by said drawings anddescription may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claim.

Referring to said drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rest of our invention operatively disposed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rest on a slightly enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a view similar to FigureZ, but showing the parts folded for carrying or storage. 1

Figure 4; 1s a perspectlve view of a ground gripping attachment whichmay be used with my device.

The back rest of the invention in its preferred form comprises a pair of frames 5 and 6 formed of strap metal and bent transversely to form a U with the greatest thickness of the metal disposed perpendicular to the general plane of the frame. The frames are pivotally connected together at their open ends by means of a rod 7 the opposite extremities of which extend through and are secured tocorrespondingside members 89 and 1011 of the frames. The Figure 5 hereinafter termed the back frame since it serves as the back proper of the rest is somewhat-shorter and narrower than the frame S,here1nafter termedthe bracing or support- 1ng frame, in "order that "the *former may a readily nest within the latter asfindicatedi in Figure 3. Suitable bracing such as the diagonal members 12-and*13 are provided on extremely comfortable when in use. and may the supporting frame, and such members are disposed across the remote face of theframe so that the full nesting of the frames willnot be interfered with.

Extending across the space between the side membersS and 10 of the back frameto form a filler therefor isa sheet 1401 flexible material such ascanvas orthe like, having,

the sides hemmed to form pockets 16 inwhich the members8 and 10' are disposed. An end of the sheet is also hemmed to define a pocket 1'7 for the reception of thecross rod 7. The

sheet additionally held in position by... 'meansof a rod18 which is securedto the sides 8 andlOandis positioned adjacent the end19ofthe frame; Attachment of the sheet to'the rod 18-is "effectedby disposal of the latter in a pocket 21formed in the sheet. LIt :willthusbe noted that the sheet is firmly heldin position on' all sides and that the pressure exerted thereagainst when a person uses therest isevenly distributed to all portlons of the frame.

The attachment between the side members of the twoframesis preferably such as to frictionally hold the frame against relative movement,the corresponding sides however be-ing -spaced apart sufficiently to permit the,

ready nesting of the frame 5 within the frame 6 notwithstanding the sheet covering disposed about the side members 8 and 10. One means of obtaining the foregoing is to provide said memberwith an offset such as clearly shown at 22 of Figure 1.

Preferably formed as van integral portion of the sheet and extending from the portion thereof defining the pocket 21, is an apron 23 which is arranged to serve as a cover or seat on which the person using the rest may sit upon while his back is reclining against the back frame and sheet. It will be noted that the rod 18 is spaced appreciably inward from the end 19 of the frame, and by reason thereof the portion of the apron near the rod"- will usually be held taut above the surface on which the rest is positioned when a person is sitting on the apron and reclining against the back, so that a cushion support will be 5 provided for the base of the spine. When the frames are nested for carrying or storage, the apron is preferably placed between the sheet and bracing members 12 and 13 as illustrated in Figure 3. v Under ordinary conditions, the frame members while in use will usually be held against undue spreading by reason of the frictional connection of the frames and the firm engagement of the end 24 of the frame 6 15 with the supporting surface or the embed ding thereof in the ground below such surface. However, should it be desirable that the frame 24 more firmly grip the ground,

a gripper 26 such as shown in Figure 4 may be attached to the frame. Preferably the gripper is of angle iron construction, one leg 27 thereof being arranged to be secured tothe end 24 by removable screws, while the other leg 28 is formed with teeth to dig into the ground.

It will now be clear that the construction and design of our back-rest is such as to effectively provide for the accomplishment of the objects hereinbefore referred to.

30 We claim:

A back rest comprising a U-shaped back frame and a U-shaped supporting frame arranged to nest one within the other, a cross rod pivotally connecting the free ends of said frames together, a second cross rod secured to said back frame and positioned inwardly of the closed end thereof, a sheet of flexible material disposed across said back frame and having longitudinally disposed and transversely disposed pockets receivin the back frame sides and the cross rods, an a flexible seat portion forming an extension of said sheet and supported from said second cross rod.

45 In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Oakland, California, this 2nd day of August, 1928.

JEAN S. PONTEN. OLAF W. PONTEN. 

